I'm getting ready to do submerge for the first time and i want to do a Source Code Submersion task to get the price down. so i'm reading in unwired and i see the following

To shape this source code, the technomancer must perform a Logic + Software (8 + desired submersion grade, 1 week) Extended Test

so my logic is 5 my software is 3 giving me 8. my desired submersion grade is 1 so all said and done its 8(9, 1Week) extended test

now i want my program to be something use full so i want to program a firewall at rating 7 (why not go for the best) now if i go to the Software Programming section in the same unwired book i see that programming a fire wall is (rating x 2, 3 months) extended test.

My question is how long will it take me to create the source code? do i have to create the fire wall program first then go through the process of making my source code. or do i just do the one of the tests?

the source code written is not for a specific program, its the source code describing the existence of the TM...

its the TM equivalent of the thesis/masterpiece ordeal that a magican can perform during initiation...

so it will take as long as the extended test defines, a little over a month...

Because it is phrased as "source code" and not "program" I'd say that it isn't a normal program, ie, a functional piece of code. It doesn't follow the normal programming rules, nor the normal program intervals, and you're using your technomancer version of programming (akin to your threading), not a mundane Software skill.

I've always seen this as a 'non-useful' type of code. Something akin to the "Thesis/Masterpiece" ordeal for magicians. Like making a painting... it's beautiful, gorgeous, imbued with your Resonance... but does it do anything? No.

And besides, since you risk loosing your submersion grade if this masterpiece is destroyed, you really, really don't want it to be a firewall. Not only that, but you can't use it yourself. Are you going to hand over your firewall (which any technomancer/sprite can use to find you, at any time) to some mundane person? Keep it on a commlink you keep with you? Geez, what if your commlink is destroyed? Your GM has final call, of course. My GM would say that I could program something beautiful and non-useful (code only another technomancer could appreciate, that a normal programmer would look at and go WTF?), and then I'd hide it away so carefully no one could ever find it.

the firewall program would be given to 2 mages that saved my life a few times, ok a bunch of times, and would be a deeply personal way of saying thank you and you have my trust.

i know that when a TM creates a program it runs just like the mundane counterpart but when it is de-compiled it will not look like a regular program.

thanks for the input.

I agree with the other posters; the Source Code ordeal has no in-game benefits aside from reducing the cost of submergence. It isn't a program in the sense of a Firewall or whatever.

All Technomancer code belongs on the daily WTF! This has made me appreciate technos in a totally new light. They are not to be envied, they are to be pitied.